Was I out of order ? Upset salesman
Discussion
I went out to buy a Mercedes A180cdi recently from a reputable dealer who has a network of garages throughout the UK. The salesman was very informative and put my mind at ease. The car advertised for too much money so I offered £2000 less for the vehicle and he went crazy. He told me it was worth the full asking price all day long. I told him that it was not due to the alloys all needing refurbished, front brakes needing done and also the tyres all needing replaced.
The salesman marched off in a mood and got his manager. The manager said I was crazy to think they’d sell the car for that money. I explained the reason for my offer and the manager asked me to leave the premises. I agreed to do so and left.
Two days later the salesman phoned me back and asked if I would still be up for doing a deal. I told him no due to their attitude and the way they treated me. The salesman said I was out of order and he has strict targets to hit and my offer tipped him over the edge. I reminded him of my rationale and then asked him not to contact me again.
It’s been years since I’ve purchased from a dealership so I am interested to hear if anyone else has had this issue ?
The salesman marched off in a mood and got his manager. The manager said I was crazy to think they’d sell the car for that money. I explained the reason for my offer and the manager asked me to leave the premises. I agreed to do so and left.
Two days later the salesman phoned me back and asked if I would still be up for doing a deal. I told him no due to their attitude and the way they treated me. The salesman said I was out of order and he has strict targets to hit and my offer tipped him over the edge. I reminded him of my rationale and then asked him not to contact me again.
It’s been years since I’ve purchased from a dealership so I am interested to hear if anyone else has had this issue ?
The car was £15998 and I was willing to go to £14000. The salesman came across very good until I told him my offer. Perhaps he is struggling with his monthly target or something. I was quite shocked and would now not purchase a vehicle from a garage from this dealer network.
From the salesman point of view, I asked a lot of questions and he had to go back and forth a good few times. I was very polite throughout and treated him with respect (I am not sure if he deserves that).
From the salesman point of view, I asked a lot of questions and he had to go back and forth a good few times. I was very polite throughout and treated him with respect (I am not sure if he deserves that).
HustleRussell said:
I don’t think it was the offer you made which made the salesman irate, but your awful tumblr tier baby talk.
P.S. does anybody believe this actually happened?
Please don’t make a mockery of me. If you do not have anything constructive to say then please reframe from doing so on my thread. Thank you P.S. does anybody believe this actually happened?
Drezza said:
I don't think £2k off a £16k car is too unreasonable as a starting offer, expecting to meet in the middle at £15k, I'd probably offer the same.
That’s how I viewed it and felt that I was given into trouble for making the offer. Back in the day you could get loads of added extras plus a little money off but it appears to be different these days. Maybe the salesman was having a bad day or the manager was under pressure. J1990 said:
Out of interest... How did you know the front brakes needed replacing? With regards to tyres, were they outside of the legal limit? Assuming you took a depth gauge with you to confirm this?
You're trying to take £2k off for minor bits of work?
Brake pads all around £60?
Full set of allows with good tread tyres for £650 - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-MERCEDES-A-B-C-...
It sounds like your offer was taking the piss a bit, you tripled the cost of fixing the things you believed to be knackered. The salesman should've been a professional and kept a professional manner but it sounds like you just took off a random amount for tiny issues on a used car.
The discs were scored quite badly and were lipped. The pads were really low. There was no way I was buying a car that needed them done. Surely they should have changed them the car went through their approved check ? The tyres had cracking and the front two were bald. The two rears had chunks out of them and one had a nail in it. The alloy wheels were diamond cut but had been corroding and were scuffed all around the edges. £2000 off seemed fair for my time and sorting out the issues which I would have done through them. The service history was missing too so I felt £16k was too much. You're trying to take £2k off for minor bits of work?
Brake pads all around £60?
Full set of allows with good tread tyres for £650 - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-MERCEDES-A-B-C-...
It sounds like your offer was taking the piss a bit, you tripled the cost of fixing the things you believed to be knackered. The salesman should've been a professional and kept a professional manner but it sounds like you just took off a random amount for tiny issues on a used car.
PurpleTurtle said:
How much of the salesman's time did you spend before lowballing him, 2 hours or 20 mins?
Every salesman has to deal with low offers, surely they teach how to handle it as salesman school before they give you your shiny shoes and Rolex?
I'm having trouble seeing 'he went crazy' actually happening, in a reputable national dealership.
More likely is that he would laugh this off in a friendly way, knowing that the deal is not sunk but you need to meet somewhere in the middle.
If you really think it needed tyres and brakes etc done to reflect the asking price then why not go with "it's strongly priced compared to others I've looked at, I like it but at that money I would want a new set of tyres and brakes on it". They are a national dealer, they can get those things in at cost. Not the 2 grand you want to chip him for. If he's happy to swallow that refurb cost and leave some decent margin in the car he will consider it, otherwise he won't, knowing that someone else might come along and offer the sticker price tomorrow or next week. That's how it generally works.
I spent 1 hour 20 minutes with him. For me to part with money it takes me a while to decide and he was able to answer all my questions. I might give him a call back and see if there is a better deal to be had. Every salesman has to deal with low offers, surely they teach how to handle it as salesman school before they give you your shiny shoes and Rolex?
I'm having trouble seeing 'he went crazy' actually happening, in a reputable national dealership.
More likely is that he would laugh this off in a friendly way, knowing that the deal is not sunk but you need to meet somewhere in the middle.
If you really think it needed tyres and brakes etc done to reflect the asking price then why not go with "it's strongly priced compared to others I've looked at, I like it but at that money I would want a new set of tyres and brakes on it". They are a national dealer, they can get those things in at cost. Not the 2 grand you want to chip him for. If he's happy to swallow that refurb cost and leave some decent margin in the car he will consider it, otherwise he won't, knowing that someone else might come along and offer the sticker price tomorrow or next week. That's how it generally works.
hyphen said:
Poor you, a life unlived 
Add it your bucket list.
I challenge you to get temporarily get suspended from pistonheads by end of this week.
Back in 1982 when I was young whipper snapper I was thrown out of a pub because I did a crap in a urinal due to the toilets being out of order. Another customer walked in just as I was wiping my backside. He was horrified and told a bouncer. The bouncer came in and lifted me up and threw me out the back door. Add it your bucket list.
I challenge you to get temporarily get suspended from pistonheads by end of this week.
Sheepshanks said:
If you're in a Mercedes dealer you're entitled to use the prices a Mercedes dealer would charge. That work is there or therabouts £2K.
My logic exactly. From the consumers point of view they are offloading a car needing loads of work done to it. Perhaps it’s for the best that I didn’t buy it as perhaps the previous owner ran it into the ground. I will phone the salesman back and give him a chance but I would need to be really impressed to buy it.
Thank you for all replies. I am glad some people agree that I was in the right. I know some people think my offer was unrealistic but all I care about is how much it costs me so want to make myself feel like I am getting a bargain. I do not care about the salesman at all. We all have to provide for our families and all negotiate.
I will phone the salesman and tell him my offer stills stand. I will also tell him not to take it personally and I will tell him I don’t care about his targets should he bring it up.
The customer is always right.
I will phone the salesman and tell him my offer stills stand. I will also tell him not to take it personally and I will tell him I don’t care about his targets should he bring it up.
The customer is always right.
A small update on the matter.
Today the salesman phoned me again and actually apologised for the way they treated me. I accepted this as he did not need to apologise. He explained to me that they could not go as low as I am asking but can meet me in the middle and gives me a free service when it’s due as a good will gesture. The only stipulations are I need to deal with the alloys myself but they will change the front brakes.
I thanked the salesman for his offer but decided to decline as I felt that this particular dealership were not worth buying from.
At this point the salesman got annoyed again and told me he had really fought my corner with the sales manager. He also said that he pulled out all the stops and had a hard time convincing the manager. My reply was “look son, it’s a buyers market and I won’t let you force me into a car purchase. I am not a pushover and if you contact me again I will sleep with your wife”. Needless to say the phone line dropped
Today the salesman phoned me again and actually apologised for the way they treated me. I accepted this as he did not need to apologise. He explained to me that they could not go as low as I am asking but can meet me in the middle and gives me a free service when it’s due as a good will gesture. The only stipulations are I need to deal with the alloys myself but they will change the front brakes.
I thanked the salesman for his offer but decided to decline as I felt that this particular dealership were not worth buying from.
At this point the salesman got annoyed again and told me he had really fought my corner with the sales manager. He also said that he pulled out all the stops and had a hard time convincing the manager. My reply was “look son, it’s a buyers market and I won’t let you force me into a car purchase. I am not a pushover and if you contact me again I will sleep with your wife”. Needless to say the phone line dropped
Grow upChrisH72 said:
I bet the salesman's wife needs doing.
She's probably a moose, that's why he's so tetchy all the time.
If you wish Chris I could phone him back and try get her number and then forward it onto you ? I will refer to this thread and say that this kind man Chris is offering to do your wife. She's probably a moose, that's why he's so tetchy all the time.
On a serious note, guys please stop making me out as being a troll as you call it. I am a normal car enthusiast who joined this forum to collaborate with like minded fellows.
popeyewhite said:
Too late for that my friend. There's a bunch of Walts on here who take particular joy in 'exposing' those they think have invented something. 'Course the poster just could have an unusual posting style... .
Yes I have have realised that. They should have a long hard look at themselves and change their ways. Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff